Naming Your Cat

So you have finally brought home your new kitten and you have got everything you need: the litter tray, toys, a bed, food and drink for them. Then a friend will drop by and remind you of the one thing you had completely forgotten about, ‘What’s their name?’.

Now you might be thinking that this isn’t true for you - and in fact you are one of the people who had the name ready before you had even picked your new cat, or even before they were born!

The naming of your kitten is the start of the relationship between the two of you, or with the whole family. So you need to be sure you have chosen the right name for the new member of your family. Below are some handy tips that might help to make that decision a little bit easier.

Shorter names are best for cats because they are easier for the pet to learn. A name with two syllables is better than a longer name. If you choose a long name, then make sure you can shorten it to a nickname for them to learn. If you have more than one pet in your house then you should try and give them very different names. Having similar names will confuse them.

Another useful thing to think about when naming your cat is that the tiny kitten will grow into a much larger cat. Their personality will change too. Names like 'Tiny' might be cute and obvious to start with, but as your pet grows you might change your mind. Some people like to name their new cat after one they have lost. This is fine, but be aware that your new cat will have its own distinct personality even if they look similar.

You can be as imaginative as you want to be when naming your cat. Unlike naming a child you don't risk embarrassing them with an unusual name. Here are some of the most popular cat names in the UK: